tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post1366631641800829948..comments2024-03-28T16:15:19.319-04:00Comments on Saideman's Semi-Spew: Germany DividedSteve Saidemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881915512311951902noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-52319507042889673512011-03-26T08:04:20.324-04:002011-03-26T08:04:20.324-04:00Regarding the explanation of Germany's decisio...Regarding the explanation of Germany's decision to abstain in the UN Security Council, my <a href="http://www.kosmopolito.org/2011/03/18/german-diplomacy-on-libya-a-quick-explanation/" rel="nofollow">colleagues from the kosmpolito blog </a> pretty much nail it. Also, the ECFR is right to point out that Merkel's conservative government <a href="http://www.ecfr.eu/blog/entry/germany_in_europe_angelas_walk_of_shame" rel="nofollow">simply lacks a clear foreign policy strategy</a>.<br /><br />As for the decision to pull out of NATO's operations in the mediterranean, it's not so much about the vote in the Bundestag, since, as you correctly observe, they would've easily won that vote. Again, this is about the state elections and the fact that in Germany, you usually don't win elections with war. Personally, I think it was a pretty hasty decision in order to avoid smear campaigning in the line of "military contribution to the Libya operation through a NATO (=Mediterranean operation) backdoor" by the opposition. I believe this decision was also criticized by the current defense minister and I wouldn't be surprised if we'd see Germany supporting at least the NATO operations enforcing the weapons embargo in the mediterranean once the state elections are over.Felixhttp://twitter.com/felixhaassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-58106634717498154042011-03-24T19:02:32.503-04:002011-03-24T19:02:32.503-04:00Being German myself, I'd say the colleagues
o...Being German myself, I'd say the colleagues <a href="http://www.kosmopolito.org/2011/03/18/german-diplomacy-on-libya-a-quick-explanation/" rel="nofollow"><br />over at the kosmopolito blog </a> capture the issue rather well. Also, the ECFR is right to point out that Germany, especially with the current conservative government, lacks <a href="http://www.ecfr.eu/blog/entry/germany_in_europe_angelas_walk_of_shame" rel="nofollow">a comprehensive foreign policy strategy</a>.<br /><br />As for the decision to pull out of NATO's operations in the mediterranean, it's not so much about the vote in the Bundestag, since, as you correctly observe, they would've easily won that vote. Again, this is about the state elections and the fact that in Germany, you usually don't win elections with a war. Personally, I think it was a pretty hasty decision in order to avoid smear campaigning á la "military contribution through the (NATO in the mediterranean) backdoor" by the opposition. The decision was also already criticized by the current defense minister and I wouldn't be surprised if we'd see Germany supporting at least the NATO operations enforcing the weapons embargo in the mediterranean after those state elections are over.Felixhttp://twitter.com/felixhaassnoreply@blogger.com